News

05/29/2012 10:46 AM - Rockford, Ill. – The Toronto Marlies knocked off the Oklahoma City Barons in a 3-1 game on Friday to win the best-of-seven series and advance to the Calder Cup Finals.

The Marlies will meet up with the Norfolk Admirals who have been awaiting the Western Conference winner after sweeping the St. John’s IceCaps last Tuesday.

The Admirals had the American Hockey League’s best record in the regular season and set the mark for the longest winning streak at 28 games. Alexandre Picard is pacing Norfolk and the AHL with 15 points (8g-7a) in 14 contests.

Forwards Matt Frattin and Jerry D’Amigo lead the Marlies with 13 points apiece. Frattin’s 10 markers are also tops in the AHL during the 2012 Calder Cup playoffs.

The matchup is also a battle of the postseason’s best goaltenders as Toronto’s Ben Scrivens leads the way with a 1.61 goals against average to go with his 11-2-0 record and .944 save percentage. Norfolk’s Dustin Tokarski ranks second with a 1.65 goals against average, along with a .939 save percentage and 8-2-0 record.

Toronto is expected to get an added boost for the finals as the club hopes to get forwards Mike Zigomanis and Nazem Kadri back in the lineup after missing two games due to injury.

The Calder Cup Finals begin on Friday, June 1 and the following is a full schedule of the best-of-seven series.